DS suspects that Father Christmas is me!

Help please!! DS will be 10 soon and almost busted us last year when we used the same wrapping paper as FC. Not sure ‘FC shops at Aldi too’ will fly this year. Any tips for letting children know the truth about the big man. Apologies if this comes as a surprise to anyone here. . Thank you!

I’ll get flamed but have never done FC with DD. Not my decision what she believes. If she chooses to, fine, but the amount of manipulation that goes on to persuade kids to believe for presents by adults makes me

Mine are 28-5 years old. All told 'if you don't believe- you don't receive'. They all humour me as they all 'know' I 'believe'- if that makes sense! The big ones all know if the 5 year old finds out from one of them, death will ensue!

We only ever gave stockings from FC anyway. Wrapped presents come from people, with the occasional gift to the whole family labelled as from 'FC'.They still like putting out some cake and a whisky on Christmas Eve.

"At some point (with Santa, anyway) the weight of inconsistency eventually becomes too great, and the direct question is asked. And when it’s asked, you ANSWER, and congratulate the child for figuring it out.

Just before Christmas, Laney’s questions intensified, but remained oblique. At one point she looked Becca in the eye and asked the most convoluted almost-direct indirect question I’ve ever heard:

“When I’m just about to have kids of my own, are you all of a sudden going to tell me something that I need to know about something?”

Dd1 at almost 10 spotted FC gave her sister's something from M&S. she started asking/testing the water so I said "would you like to ask me a question because if you would, I promise I'll answer honestly." Dd thought, smiled and said "no thank you." So all good, she clearly knew but was happy to play along (younger dc and presumably worried she won't get a stocking). 2 weeks later she told her best friend about her discovery re the M&S gifts (I overheard from the other room). Her friend said "oh yes, his elves can't make everything so he sends some to shop locally to get extra bits!" I think dd is now completely confused. DD's friend is lovely but totally away with the fairies and will probably believe until she's 18 even if she's outright told.